NFL Draft: Bears select DT Travis Bell in seventh round |
The Chicago Bears selected Kennesaw State defensive tackle Travis Bell with the No. 218 overall pick in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Bell is the first-ever NFL Draft pick from Kennesaw State and the Bears' first draft choice from a non-Power 5 program in 2023. "Tough, explosive, physical player that is relentless on the field," Kennesaw State's defensive line coach Liam Klein said to reporter Daniel Greenberg. "A great player and our leader for the last few years." In 2022, he had 34 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss in 11 games. "I'm self-driven," Bell told the media Saturday. "I'm a nasty guy. The work ethic is through the roof. I got a motor. Ya'll should expect to see me running sideline to sideline." For his career, he had 24.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 54 games. He put up 30 bench press reps at his school's pro day. This is the third defensive tackle that the Bears have picked in this draft class, along with Florida's Gervon Dexter Sr. and South Carolina's Zacch Pickens. The Bears have one final pick in this draft at pick No. 258. #Bears draft pick Travis Bell didn’t work out at the scouting combine, but had a very impressive pro day.
Just an athletic comparison, but there are strong similarities of Travis Bell and another small school player pic.twitter.com/WlV8eXhA23
Saved by the Bell 🔔
THE 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 @NFLDraft PICK IN KENNESAW STATE HISTORY ‼️@ChicagoBears take our guy @travisb_98 at 218th overall 👏👏#GoldStandard | #EAT pic.twitter.com/YxgwH0Qc7l
Bears look at the vert as a “get-off” measurement. Bell’s vert was 32.5in at his pro day, which would’ve ranked 3rd among DT at the combine - just ahead of Dexter/Pickens.
Welcome to Chicago, @travisb_98! pic.twitter.com/n627H6LwLc
